Georgia residents claim refunds following investigation by Channel 2

Nancy Kelley, a resident of Conyers, expressed her thoughts, saying, “I couldn’t help but think, this is me.”

Kelley had kept her late mother’s paperwork for over ten years, and it turned out to be quite useful when she stumbled upon unclaimed money on the Georgia website. Despite providing all the necessary documents, such as her mother’s death certificate and social security card, her claim for $730 was unfortunately rejected.

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Kelley expressed her frustration, saying, “I just figured, well, I guess they’re going to keep the money hostage.”

When Dixie Burkhalter came across our story, she experienced the same emotions.

“I understand that it may not be a significant sum, but what matters to me is the principle. If it’s my money, I believe that I should receive it,” Burkhalter expressed.

Burkhalter was informed that she would need to provide proof of address from four decades ago in order to claim the $263 she had found.

“It’s hard to believe, but 42 years ago, I actually lived in an apartment in a different town. Surprisingly, I never used that address or received any mail there. It’s as if I never even existed in that place,” she reminisced.

In a recent investigation by Channel 2 Action News, we revealed how Georgia made changes to its unclaimed property website after we began raising questions.

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Claims under $50 can now be easily searched, eliminating the previous concealment of smaller claim amounts.

We also highlighted the challenges faced by Georgians like Dale Benerofe when attempting to retrieve unclaimed property they discovered on the website. In Benerofe’s situation, he encountered difficulties in collecting the $23,000 he was entitled to.

“It’s really stressful. It really weighs on me,” Benerofe confessed.

According to Frank O’Connell, Georgia’s revenue commissioner, the majority of claims are processed smoothly and efficiently. However, there are certain cases, particularly those involving estates, that can be more complex.

O’Connell said that in cases where there are multiple children of a deceased parent, it can be challenging to determine who is entitled to the money. Therefore, it is important to provide documentation that proves you are the designated person responsible for handling the estate.

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